Fruitland man charged for impersonating police officer

SALISBURY, Md. – Maryland State Police have charged a man with impersonating a police officer in Wicomico County.

We’re told 24-year-old Isaiah Elsy turned himself into the Maryland State Police Salisbury Barrack on Thursday, where he was charged with three counts of impersonating a police officer. He was processed at the police barracks and released.

According to a preliminary investigation, troopers received multiple complaints of a man, later identified as Elsey, who was driving a Ford Crown Victoria with no police markings in the area of Route 13 and Zion Road in Salisbury. Witnesses reported that the driver activated red and blue emergency lights to move traffic out of the way and tried to conduct traffic stops in the same area.

Through interviewing witnesses and monitoring social media posts describing the incidents, troopers were able to identify Elsey as a suspect in the case. Police say they believe there may be additional victims associated with this case.

Troopers are reminding citizens of several steps they can take to keep themselves safe if they believe a police impersonator is trying to pull them over:

• If the person is driving an unmarked vehicle and you are unsure the person is a police officer, you can call your local police department to determine if the stop is real.
• Look for a uniform or other official department clothing, such as a jacket.
• Whether they are in uniform or plain clothes, you can ask to see a badge and identification
• If they tell you to get out of your vehicle without any preliminary questions, be suspicious
• If a car turns on flashing lights behind you, you can slow down, put on your hazard lights and find a well-lit area to stop.
• Trust your instincts. If you suspect the person is not a police officer, they probably are not and you should call 911.